Mark Parkinson (Missouri politician)
Encyclopedia
Mark A. Parkinson is a Republican
member of the Missouri House of Representatives
, representing the 16th district (St. Charles County
).
. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Saint Louis University
in 2000. He is married to Brigit Parkinson.
, and is also a member of Ducks Unlimited
, Missouri Right to Life, and the National Park Foundation
. In the St. Charles area, Parkinson is a member of the St. Charles chapter of the Pachyderms, a Republican social club.
. During his time with Bond, he eventually became the deputy district director of the St. Louis office, overseeing that office's constituent relations and constituent outreach programs. Among other responsibilities, Parkinson coordinated and conducted Bond's "Listening Post" program, holding local question-and-answer sessions across 17 counties in northeast Missouri.
Prior to his role with Bond, Parkinson also worked closely with the St. Louis Senate office of then-U.S. Senator and future U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft
.
, and was selected by the local Republican legislative committee to run as the party's candidate. Due to the nature of the election, there was no primary, and Parkinson faced Democrat Tom Fann in a special election held on the same day as Missouri's 2008 presidential primary. Despite over 500 more Democratic primary ballots being drawn, Parkinson won by 3%, and was sworn in on February 26, 2008.
Despite Parkinson's shortened timeframe during his first term, he sponsored immigration reform legislation that was eventually incorporated into an omnibus immigration bill and signed by governor Matt Blunt
. For his work on this issue, he was recognized as one of the freshmen legislators of the year.
Parkinson was reelected in November 2008. During the 2009 session of the Missouri General Assembly, Parkinson has sponsored legislation dealing with immigration reform, property tax reform, tax deductions for homeschooling families, truth in sentencing legislation, and other issues.
2009-2010 legislative session
2011-2012 legislative session
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
, representing the 16th district (St. Charles County
Saint Charles County, Missouri
As of 2000, there were 283,883 people, 101,663 households, and 77,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 507 people per square mile . There were 105,514 housing units at an average density of 73 persons/km²...
).
Background and Education
Parkinson is a St. Charles County native, graduating from Francis Howell High SchoolFrancis Howell High School
Francis Howell High School is a four year public high school located in Weldon Spring, Missouri. Approximately 1800 students from Defiance, Foristell, New Melle, O'Fallon, Saint Peters, Saint Charles, Weldon Spring, and Wentzville attend school at Howell....
. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in 2000. He is married to Brigit Parkinson.
Group Memberships
Parkinson holds lifetime membership with the National Rifle AssociationNational Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, and is also a member of Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was...
, Missouri Right to Life, and the National Park Foundation
National Park Foundation
Chartered by Congress, the National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s nearly 400 national parks. Funds contributed to the Foundation are invested directly into the national parks...
. In the St. Charles area, Parkinson is a member of the St. Charles chapter of the Pachyderms, a Republican social club.
Pre-Elected Career
In 2000, Parkinson began working for the St. Louis office of United States Senator Kit BondKit Bond
Christopher Samuel "Kit" Bond is a former United States Senator from Missouri and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, he defeated Democrat Harriett Woods by a margin of 53%-47%. He was re-elected in 1992, 1998, and 2004...
. During his time with Bond, he eventually became the deputy district director of the St. Louis office, overseeing that office's constituent relations and constituent outreach programs. Among other responsibilities, Parkinson coordinated and conducted Bond's "Listening Post" program, holding local question-and-answer sessions across 17 counties in northeast Missouri.
Prior to his role with Bond, Parkinson also worked closely with the St. Louis Senate office of then-U.S. Senator and future U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
.
Elected Career and Legislation
In 2007, Parkinson announced his intention to run for the 16th district state representative seat vacated by Carl BeardenCarl Bearden
Carl Bearden is a Missouri Republican politician who was the Speaker pro Tempore for the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007. He lives in St. Charles, Missouri, with his wife, Deborah. They have two children, Amber and Allison.He is a member of the First Baptist Church of...
, and was selected by the local Republican legislative committee to run as the party's candidate. Due to the nature of the election, there was no primary, and Parkinson faced Democrat Tom Fann in a special election held on the same day as Missouri's 2008 presidential primary. Despite over 500 more Democratic primary ballots being drawn, Parkinson won by 3%, and was sworn in on February 26, 2008.
Despite Parkinson's shortened timeframe during his first term, he sponsored immigration reform legislation that was eventually incorporated into an omnibus immigration bill and signed by governor Matt Blunt
Matt Blunt
Matthew Roy Blunt served as the 54th Governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. Before his election as governor, Blunt served ten years in the United States Navy, was elected to serve in the Missouri General Assembly in 1998 and as Missouri's Secretary of State in 2000.A Republican, Blunt was elected...
. For his work on this issue, he was recognized as one of the freshmen legislators of the year.
Parkinson was reelected in November 2008. During the 2009 session of the Missouri General Assembly, Parkinson has sponsored legislation dealing with immigration reform, property tax reform, tax deductions for homeschooling families, truth in sentencing legislation, and other issues.
Committee Assignments
2008 legislative session- Tax Reform;
- Financial Institutions;
- Transportation; and
- Joint Transportation Oversight Committee.
2009-2010 legislative session
- International Trade and Immigration (Vice-Chair);
- Fiscal Review;
- Homeland Security; and;
- Special Committee on General Laws.
2011-2012 legislative session
- Appropriations - General Administration, Chairman
- Budget
- General Laws
- Fiscal Review
- International Trade and Job Creation
- Joint Committee on Capital Improvements and Leases Oversight, Vice-Chairman
- Joint Committee on Legislative Research